log dump
Jubilee says, "'sides Nate?" Jubilee asks, glancing up at Scott, then away towards Cassy, noting the progress of the twinkie removal. The subject of Alyssa and Jono's... uh... capabilities mercifully getting skipped over. By her.
"He been havin' nightmares?" Alyssa interjects around her last bite of hotdog.
Scott clears his throat as he replies to Alyssa. "Mr. Summers." He states. Then he answers her, "Besides Nathan, no. None that I am aware of. But if something of that nature is happening, perhaps you should speak to either Professor Grey, or Professor Xavier." He continues cooking his dog as he nods to Kitty after she arrives. "Kitty."
Mira chews thoughtfully on her hot dog, smiling beatifically at Alyssa as words roll off her like water off a duck's back. "Summer's good, Mr. ... uh, Summers. Can still hear the cicadas, so it feels just like home. I didn't think they lived this far north, but I'm no... bug-studier." She looks more interested as the talk turns to little Nate.
"I... /really/ didn't need to hear that" Kitty comments on the remark about Alyssa's sex life. CREEPY. "Hi Mr. Summers" was she still supposed to call him that now that she was an X-Man and not a student? Oh well. Once the smell of cooking food reaches a certain dragon's nostrils, he makes one final swoop down to land near the campfire, giving the gathered mutants his Sad Dragon Eyes in hopes of guilting food scraps out of them.
Jubilee is so easy. She stuffs all but the last bite of hot dog in her mouth and tosses the remainder Lockheed-wards, then starts creeping closer to Cassy. *shift, scoot, sliiiiiiide*
"Everything uhm is peachy I guess, except I buried my snacks too deep. 'Coz I didn't want the tide to move the beach and uncover them," Cassy declares, now leaning forward to claw at the bottom of her tunnel. The teenagers left hands rests on the faded bite mark which is still visible on her arm, keeping it from view.
The sounds of voices and the flickering light of the campfire reach Piotr before he can make out the individuals present at the little gathering by the lakeside. Curious as to what is going on, he increases his speed from a leisurely jog to a more determined pace, a smile spreading as he sees the people present. A wave of greeting is offered, and a hearty, "Hallo!" called out.
"/Professor/ Summers," Alyssa corrects with a sigh, moving rather away from him. "If it happens again, I will -- Cass, see if Lockheed will help you?" The subject of her sex life thankfully dropped, Alyssa turns to wave a greeting at the Russian. "Hey, Piotr," she carols cheerfully, brushing the last bits of bun-crumbs off her hands. The scar on her shoulder is a year old and nearly never thought of, anymore -- but it does shine pale against her light summer tan. She pauses, and eyes the water.
"And nobody brought a radio?" Mira rolls her eyes and sighs the sigh of the long-suffering. "Honestly." Nimble thumbs trail across her iPod's clickwheel and dial up a song of choice then crank the volume from the tiny white earbuds. She flutters a hand over them, wafting the air and the sound to a full auditory suite. Alice Cooper begins to wail that "School's out for summer".
"Cassy, you /can/ keep snacks in your room, you know" Kitty says, looking at the girl oddly. "I have a mini-fridge in mine." She gives in "where'd you bury them? I'll see if I can phase them out without letting any sand bond molecules with them..." A familliar Russian-accented voice catches her attention, though, and she turns to wave "hey you!" she greets Piotr with a cheerful wave.
Scott has finally cooked his dog and is not placing ketchup and mustard on it. He nods towards the ruskie. "Piotr. Hello." Of course, he stayed out of the conversations. They didn't really apply to him. Silently, he wished someone closer to his own age was here. After getting his food, he sits down on the dock itself, allowing his now bare feet to dangle over the water.
Cassy sighs. "But then people can find them easily," she replies, glancing at everyone suspiciously. Then in a stern voice she adds "You can't have any Jubilee, Forge told me how when you eat candy it could make you /explode/ and die!" The hole is now rather deep and Cassy has been forced to reveal her bite wound to stop the sand falling back in.
"Forge exaggerates," Alyssa declares with a grin, laughing her approval of Mira's choice of music even as she adresses Cassy's defense of her snacktime treats. Hands settled on her hips, she wiggles her toes in the sand and turns away from the water, moving back up toward the little knot of students and former students and staff. "I'll letcha know where I keep the marshmallow fluff stashed in exchange for a twinkie, kiddo."
"Oh, call me Peter, please," says Piotr as he reaches a comfortable speaking distance with the group. "It is much easier." Alyssa's greeting is met with a smile and Kitty's wave returned before his eyes light on Scott and he walks over, seating himself beside the older man. "Professor Summers?" he says, a little hesitantly, unsure of how he should address his former teacher. "Do you have a moment to speak?"
Jubilee halts her advance guiltily. "I do /not/! Did Forge ever tell you he thought Nate was a /leperchaun/?" she retorts in an "and you believed him" voice.
Mira tears bits off the leftover bit of hot dog bun and flings them toward Lockheed. Wobbly dragon eyes are effective for begging, however stoic she may feel on the subject. Alice Cooper segues into the awful but party-atmosphere appropriate Right Said Fred. I'm too sexy. "Put the little guy in a green suit and I could see it," she laughs back at Jubilee.
Kitty reaches in to phase Cassy's snack cakes out of the sand, and hands them to her. "There you go. Sand free and still full of" she brings the box closer to her eyes to read the ingredients "animal and/or vegetable shortening.... polysorbate 60, Sodium stearol lactylate... oh, yum. How does Dr. McCoy not have some sort of cholesterol problem?"
Scott swallows a bit of hotdog and turns towards Piotr. "Peter. Uh..sure, I have a moment. What's on your mind?" He turns towards him a little on the dock. He keeps his voice low, in case whatever it is Piotr wants to talk about needs to be kept quiet.
Jubilee grins over at Mira. "I think it was the Spock ears that convinced me. Was ready ta fly me back ta Ireland just ta put him back." She starts to giggle and claps her hands over her mouth.
"I figured it was your mutant power, candy induced combustion," Cassy replies innocently. "Thanks Kitty!" she exclaims as she cuddles the plastic bag filled with about twenty packs of twinkies. "Shame I'll have to find a new hiding place, the dirt in the forest is much harder to dig up." A packet is torn open and the contents devoured rapidly.
Appreciative of his former teacher's discretion, Piotr matches his low speech, heavy Russian accent colouring his voice. "I know I have been away for a long time," he begins, speaking slowly as he chooses his words carefully, "but now that I have returned, I am wishing to be useful in any way that I can, and I was wondering..." there is a moment's uneasy pause, "is there any place for me now on the team?"
"Who exactly are you hiding them from?" Mira eyes Cassy suspiciously from a distance. "'Cause if you're implying something, I'm gonna be insulted over here." She looks to Jubilee and just rolls her eyes. Roommates. Can't live with 'em, can't bury the bodies.
Into this fun and frolicsome atmosphere emerges Professor Xavier, dignified in old world gravitas -- and a pair of Bermuda shorts, khaki and deep-pocketed, that bare the pale legs against the wheelchair's frame. His shirt is pale green linen, short-sleeved and breezy, while the bald and regal head is suitably protected against the elements by a floppy white hat. It is, if seen by a certain light, a little bit gay. "Ah," he says by way of greeting, steering the chair out through the atrium. "I see there is a convention in progress."
Jubilee /sniffs/. /SNIFFS/. Well, /duh/, Mira. Isn't it obvious? "Caaaaasssy... You are in that betting pool thing aren't ya?"
Kitty pops open the cresent roll dough cannister she brought in a cooler-bag, and begins wrapping one onto the end of a stick. Mmmm, fire-baked pastries. "Professor Xavier! Hi! Glad you could join us!" Kitty Pryde: Molecular phaser, computer genius, dragon keeper... and teacher's pet.
Scott nods to Piotr with a deadpan expression, "I'm sure we can find you something. The jet needs to be washed, the floors need waxing..." He pauses and looks at Piotr for a moment. Then he breaks into a smile. "Seriously, we'd be happy to have you back, Piotr. Now, this is supposed to be a party, so I suggest you go enjoy yourself." He pats the larger man on the back lightly and then goes back to his hotdog.
Cassy points at Scott and gasps. "Impostor!" she jests playfully. "And Jubilee, of course I'm involved. You're like the number one gossip topic! Besides /someone/ needed to set up an organized system, like it's totally all part of my summer maths project!"
Alyssa's distraction is obvious, disappointment in not getting a twinkie soon forgotten in the wake of the Professor's arrival. "Professor!" she greets a moment after Kitty, fierce and protective joy surging briefly to the head of Xavier house before she clamps down on it. "I like your hat," she adds as she drifts over toward him, but refrains from an impulsive hug. /Refrains/.
Jubilee eyes the twinkies avariciously, then glances up at Cassy and waggled her brows. "How much are you willing to pay for an inside tip?"
Mira glances up at happy cries. She must contain herself, and thus does not fast-forward to a particular Geto Boys' song on Xavier's behalf. One which touts how good it feels 'to be a gangsta'. Instead she merely smiles and waves.
"With such excitement, how could I stay away?" Professor Xavier answers Kitty in deep-voiced reply, a smile warming the strong face under the hat's shadow. "Although with Scott and Peter here, I can at least be confident you will not inadvertently burn down the mansion out of sheer exuberance. --Thank you, Alyssa," he adds with a pleasant nod of greeting for that girl -- and a touch of approval for that restraint. Do not hug the Xavier, for he is mighty, and quick to rumple.
The expression Scott sees on Piotr's face at his joke is one of serious acceptance, although his real answer is met with an expression that is just a little relieved. "Thank you," he replies, radiating solemn sincerity. Standing once more, his attention turns to Xavier as he hears his name, and a warm, if slightly embarrassed, smile comes to his face.
Kitty offers Piotr a wide smile, and a stick, the end of which is pointed and primed for spearing one's food of choice. "Hungry?" she asks, blowing on her own now-slightly-burnt gob of cresent roll dough. At least she managed not to let it catch fire! This is an accomplishment for a girl who only knows how to cook three things without ruining them.
Scott tosses the rest of his hotdog into his mouth. Chews. Swallows. He then rises to his feet, brushing his hands together to get rid of the crumbs. He places his hands behind his back and begins to walk towards Xavier. He nods a greeting to him. "Professor."
Cassy slowly begins piling up twinkie packets in front of Jubilee. "How does ten packs of two sound?" she offers with a mercenary smile. "All of them if you've both got a date planned." Another packet is opened and the teenage red head takes a slow bite out of it in a blatant display of twinkie ownership.
Jubilee holds out her hand. "Not planned. But I /might/ be encouraged toward a particular one?"
"Read anything twice before you sign it," Mira hisses over Jubilee's shoulder, the only indication given that she's been eavesdropping on secret plans. Back to staring at nothing, oh yes, totally innocent.
"Scott," Xavier greets, nodding likewise in reciprocal courtesy. The floppy white hat flops, as is its nature, waving its own cheerful greeting to Cyclops. "Are you participant or chaperone?" The hand at the controls turns the chair, steering it slowly towards a loop of the dock and the invitation of shade, beyond. "I see you have your hands full."
Piotr eyes the snack spear curiously for a moment, then accepts it with a warm smile, wrapping his big hand comfortably around the stick. "A little, thank you," he says, casting his eyes around the selection of food to be sampled. A marshmallow is selected, speared and toasted to perfection, then eaten with surprising delicacy. Despite his care, however, a smudge of white remains, unnoticed, on his lip.
Scott walks with Xavier. "More chaperone than participant, sir." He nods again faintly. "Yes, sir. I always have my hands full when dealing with this group." Of course, although he was telling the truth, he was also making a slight joke. "Though it seems like they are having fun."
Lockheed has spotted the Twinkies! Oh, Kitty never eats those, let him have one, please? He makes the Cute Face once again, aiming it at full force at Cassy.
Kitty giggles at the sight of Piotr's marshmallow-lip "you um..." she points to her own lips. "Just a little, right here." So cute! No, wait, she didn't mean to think that! She's nineteen years old, she shouldn't still be feeling like a fourteen year old with a schoolgirl crush! Not that she /had/ one in the first place, of course....
Cassy splits the other twinkie from the open pack and offers Lockheed half. Then the rest are dropped into Jubilee's waiting hands, along with a note with Cassy's email on. Kitty and Piotr get a curious look and an impish grin. < < Kitty's in loooooooovvvvveeeee, Kitty's in /love/. > >
"Then you may chaperone me if you like," Xavier says firmly, amusement a rich, textured note in the cultured baritone. His chair rolls to a pause, turned towards the water. "Even hard-working faculty must have their moments of relaxation. As the old saying goes, all work and no play--" His changeable gaze skims towards the grouping of old and young women around the dragon. The Professor looks resigned. "And how does Alex fare?"
It takes Piotr a moment to work out what Kitty is trying to tell him, then realisation hits and he licks his lips, head retreating a little towards his shoulders in embarrassment as his cheeks colour to a fetching pink. "Ah, thank you," he says, mumbling somewhat through his smile. There really is no reason for him to be this embarrassed over a little bit of marshmallow. This level of embarrassment is quite illogical.
Mira sidles up behind Cassy, splitting her concentration between talk and playing impromptu DJ. "You're an evil genius, you know that? Like, you could be a James Bond villain."
Waving to Jubilee as she departs the docks, Alyssa looks -- briefly -- back toward Xavier and Scott. There is a brief surge of -- something undefined before she shakes her head, and returns her attention back to the gathering at hand. It seems to be going strong, but her little fire -- is dwindling. She reapproaches it and settles on her log, poking at the failing fire with a coathanger poker.
Scott raises a brow at Xavier. "Sir, if this is your way of telling me to loosen up and have fun.." He trails off. He nods once. "Alex is adjusting. Of course, he still has no concept of dicipline, but he is trying, to say the least." He lays a hand on Xavier's shoulder. "But I understand what you mean. However..." He clears his throat. "..as you stated earlier. Someone has to make sure that the mansion isn't burned down." A ghost of a smile comes to his lips before he pats Xavier's shoulder and turns to walk back to the small group.
"Shhhhh!" Cassy says to Mira as she hunts for the camera, which is quickly aimed at Kitty and piotr. Then with a click and a camera flash a picture of the happy couple, or happy couple to be, is taken. They look rather cute, everyone may go awh. "Perfect!" she declares loudly.
Lockheed decides to help out with the fire. FWOOSH! Who needs matches when one has a tiny little fire-breathing beast on hand? He immediately looks for some sort of reward for his deed, be it affection or food.
Professor Xavier's mouth twitches. << If you could also prevent them from painting it an unsuitable color, >> he adds silently to Piotr and Summers -- and, wry with warning, Jubilee, << I would be quite appreciative. Enjoy your afternoon. >> Dignified still, floppy hat bouncing amiably over his shoulders, the telepath wheels himself off to find peace and quiet down the path.
Walter was /wondering/ where everyone was. Heading out into the woods for a walk, he hears a commotion and runs over to find something of a party. /Highly/ disappointed that noone thought to invite him, he heads towards the largest gathering. Glancing towards the friendliest of the faces, namely Mira, he asks, "What's going on?" He notices the camera, and looks off in the direction it was pointed, and he smiles. << Oh, /that/'s how they know each other. Poor Jamie. >> Lockheed is given a small pat, good dragon.
Mira blinks at the sudden flash and the spot that remains in her peripheral vision. The amplified music from the iPod dies away briefly when her concentration is broken. "Wha.. hey! That's *my* camera! Just remember to take that one out, alright? I'm supposed to send those pictures to my mom."
Kitty blinks at the camera flash, looking confused for a moment. Oh, right, pictures. "A little warning next time Cassy? I'm seeing spots now." She squeezes her eyes shut again, trying to rid her vision of the phantom lights. It doesn't occur to her that she's now been targeted by the Cassy Matchmake-a-tron 3000.
Alyssa shreaks quietly as her fire -- no longer has any trouble, quickly withdrawing her hand from anywhere near it. "/Lockheed/," she scolds, though her voice is still affectionate, "be /careful/." She doesn't have anything to feed him with, but -- she does smirk over at Cassy's camera antics. "Glad you weren't around a year ago, Cass," she calls out over the slight distance.
A party without Iceman and the chilled beverages which come with as part and parcel of the package? A travesty! Drawn by the magnet which is promised fun, Bobby strolls across the lawn in Navy three-quarter-lengths and a baby blue t-shirt instructing all to 'Follow freeman!' while depicting a crowbar from Half-Life 2. Okay, so he's so fashionably late that it's unfashionable again, but he brings with him strawberries in a large bowl! Strawberries are good, and these are pleasantly /chilled/ strawberries. He eats a few on the way over.
If it is possible, Piotr is even more oblivious than Kitty to the implications of the picture. It is probably possible, since it is difficult to out-oblivious Piotr in situations such as this. Mild concern is directed at Kitty, but he reasons she can probably survive the onslaught of the flashy lights, so he remains quite and begins work on a second marshmallow.
Mira's free hand waves to Walter and she concentrates to bring the music back to party levels. Something a little more chill this time. "Hey Walt. Just a little get together. It kinda ballooned in the past couple hours, but it's all cool. There might be some food left in th' ice chest, if you feel like cookin' it over dragonfire." She leaves her roomie to evil plots and sits on the log next to Aly.
Cassy giggles. "I best get rid of the picture of Pest in the shower then," she muses thoughtfully. "Your mom would freak if she thought this place had rats."
Walter smiles as Mira pipes the music, he smiles, and heads over to find said food. Cooking over dragonfire, the /coolest/ school /ever/. He glances at Cassy, "Pest got in the shower? Ooo, /that/ had to end badly." He smiles to Bobby, well, at least he wasn't the /only/ one unaware of the brewing party. Back to that food.
Scott finds a nice shady spot where he can keep an eye on things. Xavier's silent comment brought a smile to his lips, but it is gone almost as soon as it appears. When Bobby shows up, Scott offered him a faint nod. "Bobby." Is spoken in greeting. Meanwhile, he just sits back and watches. Might as well relax a little.
Alyssa is /observant/ -- but only when she wants to be. Or there is cold fruit on the way in. "Bobby. /Bobby/!" she calls out, "Gimme some of those, would you?" Whether or not he actually sits down to do so, who knows. "Hey, Mira," Aly grins, reaching out with her poker once the first rush of dragon-fed fire subsides to a cheery blaze. "You like starwberries? Bet if he doesn't give us some, he'll startle enough if we depants him to drop the bowl."
"She knows about Pest, but I have to sort the pictures before I send 'em off anyway. Though I'm pretty sure I don't wanna send pictures," Mira lowers her voice and casts a pointed look at a certain little purple dragon, "of *some people* over the internet." She then grins wickedly at Aly. "I'm indifferent to strawberries, but tell me more of this startling plan."
Bobby picks out a large berry and chucks it /roughly/ in Alyssa's direction, "Heya!" he continues towards the group and places the fruit down as a free-for-all upon reaching them. "What, you all started already? 's rude."
Cassy springs for the fruit, for it isn't in any way dead animal! "Heya Bobby, good to see you back at last," she says cheerfully. Then with her hands full of strawberry's she turns to Walter and adds "Pest only got out by himself /once/ the second time he was in the showers I'd taken him in for a bath and photo session."
Walter raises an eyebrow. Pantless Bobby is /not/ a fun idea, and, as such, is forgotten, to never be thought about again. He finds a hot dog, skewers it, and roasts it over the fire. He glances towards Lockheed, "Want me to cook you one too, my little purple friend?" He sits on the ground, just outside of the too-hot zone. He nods to Cassy, "Oh, okay then."
Amazingly, Lockheed seems content to curl up not too far from the fire, enjoying the warmth as much as any other cold-blooded creature would. Kitty descends upon the strawberries, though, taking a small handfull for herself. "Thanks Bobby" she says, taking a seat. "This is nice" she notes, to no one in particular- or maybe everyone. "We don't do stuff like this /nearly/ enough." Probably because the whole superhero thing gets in the way. A hectic schedule comes built in to the snazzy leather outfits.
Alyssa defly catches the fruit despite the force with which it's tossed, and makes a face at Bobby. "You are such an /ass/, Bobby Drake," she mocks, before cheerfully eating her strawberry. Mmm, strawberry. "See? Bobby," she emphasizes as she leans over toward Mira, "Is no fun at /all/."
"Though," Mira says back, inclining her head to casually indicate Cassy without making real mention, "if you believe some people, he creeps into the girl's dorm at night and steals their underwear."
Piotr's marshmallow is eaten, and an exploratory lick of the lips indicates more success in this endeavour than before. A smile and a nod is offered to Bobby, although he does not leap for the strawberries with everyone else, instead settling himself on the floor, propping himself up on tree-trunk arms. He remains introspectively silent, trying to decipher the odd telepathic instruction and then, once it is deciphered, to follow it. No paint visible. Good.
"No fun? True, then there's /Alyssa/..." Bobby shoots back, letting it hang and grabbing himself yet more red goodness. He grins and then looks out to the lake, "So nobody's swimming?" he asks, snapping an amused look at Cassy once Mira tell-tales. As if.
Walter pulls his hot dog back, inspecting it. It's a /little/ overdone, so is offered to Lockheed, are dragon's picky eaters? He looks over at Cassy, "Maybe the school just has a pervy ghost?" He looks at Bobby, "I don't think Bobby's sneaky enough to pull it off." He grins, he's just going along with the joke.
"Yah know, you /so/ shouldn't have been freezing our room the other day. It was like /totally/ unprovoked." Cassy sullenly notes at Bobby, then in a more cheery tone she adds "Hey Kitty, is it true you're a ninja? If so can you like give me some ninja fighting lessons before self defense classes start up?" Strawberry's are then munched on, they are rather good and her handful disappears rather quickly.
"I'm almost a black belt in Karate" Kitty answers Cassy. "Hardly a ninja, but I can handle myself in a fight, and my powers make for good stealth tactics. Not to mention all the training I've gotten here." She pauses a moment in contemplation "You know, I bet there are a couple places in town where I could finish my formal training, and finally get around to getting that black belt."
Scott yawns slightly, still sitting in the shade and watching the others. Sure, they were...chaotic at best, but heck, they were good kids mostly. He allowed himself to close his eyes behind his sunglasses...not that anyone would notice. His ears however were open and alert, listening to all around him.
Mira shoots a little sour look at Bobby's back when she thinks he isn't looking. So not nice making their room freezing. Then she is distracted by talk of martial arts. "Yeah, we need to learn how to kick butt!" she agrees enthusiastically, if perhaps missing the point.
Walter looks to Cassy and Kitty at the mention of Self defense courses, he needs to talk to someone about that. He nods with Mira, "Definately." Scooching closer, he whispers to Mira, "Still want me to move Cassy's stuff under the vent?"
Scott ahems softly, then speaks so everyone can hear. "Martial Arts are for defense only, Mira. We don't teach people how to kick butt around here, only how to avoid a fight. Understand?" It's the first time he's spoken in quite awhile.
Telekinesis makes Walters weenie jump free from it's bun. "I didn't want to learn to hurt someone anyway, to get space to run and like make sure someone isn't going to catch me," Cassy says with a smile. "And I'm staying at /my/ side of the room thank you very much. First come first served and all that. Besides it's safer having me on that side, less breakables."
"It's not about 'kicking butt-" Kitty starts, only to have Scott beat her to the punch, so to speak. "What he said. It also teaches you self-control, balance, problem-solving, things like that. You're welcome to come to classes with me if you like. The classes are usually mixed skill level, so that students can learn from each other as well as the sensei."
Nodding a little to the tune of Scott's careful remonstration, Piotr smiles at Cassy's addition, then Kitty's. "It is thinking quickly in such a situation that is most important," he adds. "There is often a way to remove yourself from danger you did not seek without having to resort to violence."
"Yeah yeah," Mira says and deflates slightly. "The whole David Carradine 'Kung Fu' Grasshopper thing. 'I will not fight you, I will not fight you'. But then he does it anyway!"
Walter nods, "Well, I'm not really interested in beating people up, I just would like to be able to not have to use my powers /every/ time something bad happens." He looks to Cassy, leaning close to whisper, "Nightmares?" before saying louder, "Well, I'm pretty good at getaways, I might be the fastest person here." The hotdog is allowed to escape, oh well, He'll fix another later.
Cassy huffs at Walter and then at Mira for good measure. A few more strawberry's are swiped and then she suddenly springs to her feet. "I need to go feed Pest, I'll like even sort out the camera while I'm gone," she declares, sounding rather annoyed. "Hope your weenie trouble clears up Walt." Then with a smile for everyone else she begins skipping off down the path.
Mira makes a face after Cassy of 'what did *I* do?', but it's too late. This quickly turns into a brief glare at Walter for an unspecified infraction. She tosses the groundfall hot dog into the fire.
Walter looks apologetically up at Mira, "I think I know why, I'll tell you later." He glances around, trying to indicate that it's not a topic for quite so many ears. He grabs another hotdog, roasting it. He looks over at Scott, "Who teaches Self Defense anyway? I don't remember seeing a name on the schedule."
"Is Logan still teaching that?" Kitty asks Scott. "I could always sub for the basic classes once I've got that black belt" she offers. "Until someone more qualified is available, of course."
Scott answers Kitty. "I believe Logan is still teaching the class. IF he shows back up before school starts." And then he falls silent again. Instantly he regretted what he said. He shouldn't have allowed his emotions to get the better of him where Logan was concerned. So he followed up with, "Though I'm sure he's going to do it."
There is an awkward moment, Piotr senses. Shifting from his reclining position to bring himself a little more upright, he speaks with a little more volume than is strictly necessary, disguising it inexpertly as good cheer. "Perhaps you could be demonstrating a little karate now, Kitty?" he suggests. "Let them see what it is like?"
"Lots of teachers on vacation," Mira says. The music she had forgotten had long since died to a mere tinny mutter from the iPod's earbuds, so she simply switches it off entirely. Her mood fell a little when Cassy gave her an annoyed huff. "But I guess it is summer. Too many people moonlighting, I guess."
Walter looks from Kitty, then back over to Scott, "The big hairy guy? Um... he /does/ take it easy on the new kids, right?" He attempts to make himself appear smaller as he prepares his hotdog. "I think I startled him when we met. I guess he teaches cause he really knows how to fight?" Even a child with combat instincts as unhoned as Walter's can recognize someone who knows how to /fight/. He glances over to the depressed audio-kinetic. He gives her a "It'll work out" smile, Cassy was really more mad at /him/ anyway.
Kitty's eyebrows move up at Piotr's suggestion. "Are you offering to spar with me, Pete?" she asks with a grin. "I'd be happy to. For demonstration purposes only, of course."
Piotr's hands raise in hasty denial, eyebrows too shooting heavenwards in surprise. "I was meaning a... drill, or something similar," he says quickly. "I think I have seen this, yes? Perhaps it was not karate, but another martial art? Uhm." It is an embarrassed little noise from such a big man. "However, if you are needing a partner to demonstrate..." he adds, determined not to go back on his own suggestion, even if it was misconstrued.
Scott offers, "Perhaps I could help Kitty in her demonstration?" He moves to stand up from his perch, stretching slightly as he moves towards the rest of the group.
Walter grins over at Mira, maybe Kitty beating up Mr. Summers will cheer his friend up. He takes a bite out of the hotdog. Growth spurt, metabolic mutant, it's all been heard before.
Mira shrugs back to Walter, brightening a little at the exchange between Kitty and Piotr. She changes moods so quickly they might as well be velcroed on. But honestly, the hefty Russian apparently cowed at the thought of little Kitty Pryde beating him up. Great material. She nudges Walter knowingly in the side as she jockeys for a good place to stand and watch.
"Alright" Kitty says to both of the older X-Men. She stands "the patch of beach over there looks as good of a place as ever." She's already unlacing her shoes. "Mr. Summers has a lot more experience than I do, it should be quite the sight" she she says with a humble laugh, tying her hair back with a band from her wrist. "Shall we?" she says to her former teacher.
Scott inclines his head to Kitty. "After you." Placing his hands behind his back he moves over towards the beach. Then, he kicks off his sandals and turns to face her. "Whever you're ready."
She takes a long, deep breath. No pressure Kitty, she tells herself, it's just a demonstration. A suitable spot is found, and she waits until Scott has found one accross from her, and bows in the traditional manner.
Walter smiles at the nudge. He is /fairly/ certain that if he /wanted/ to, Pete could beat Kitty, punching metal probably hurts the puncher more than the punchee, but whatever. He stands, following Mira. Looking forward to watching the older mutants' demonstration, he takes another bite of his hot dog. Too bad noone brought Jiffy Pop.
In a loud and announcer-y voice, Mira chirps, "Round One! Fight!"
Privately glad that Scott has taken the challenge that he accidentally elicited, Piotr sits back once more and retrieves his toasting stick from the ground next to him, leaning some way round the fire to snag another marshmallow. Mira's announcement provokes a stern expression. "Not a fight," he insists, "a demonstration."
Scott places his left fist in the palm of his right hand and bows at the waist to Kitty while keeping his eyes on her at all times. When he straightens, he slides one leg out, evening out his balance. One hand is held out in front, the other is kept close to his body. Moving to the balls of his feet so that he can move more easily, he waits for Kitty's attack. He offers her a nod to indicate that he's ready.
Mira frumps a little. Why are old people so grumpy about this? "Guess he never played Street Fighter, huh?" she says to Walter in a much quieter voice.
Walter chuckles, "Well, could be worse..." To demonstrate, he yells, in a fairly good imitation "Let Mortal Kombat begin!"
Somehow, Kitty manages to tune out the kids. The video game comments are something she'd normally giggle at. When Scott nods, she advances to engage him. The 'cat' part of her codename doesn't just derrive from her day-to-day nickname; her personal style of combat favours being light and graceful on her feet, likely a by-product of years of ballet classes along with martial arts. Her movements are swift as she attempts to strike at her team leader and former teacher.
"Mira, Walter," Piotr says, his accented voice quiet but stern, "this is not something we should be joking about. Fighting is always the last option, something we should be turning to only when we have no other choice. Violence is a terrible thing."
Scott waits for her attack. He watches her movments, trying to anticipate her. When she attacks, he steps to the side, lifting a forearm and blocking. Spinning in place, he kicks his leg out at her shoulder.
The kick is well-aimed, and Kitty finds herself unable to block or dodge it completely. Instead, she attempts to roll her shoulder back in order to lessen the resistance to it (the natural instinct to phase forcefully suppresed in the name of a fair fight). She tries to throw Scott off balance by aiming a kick at his grounded leg.
Scott falls forwards from Kitty's kick, but he plants his hands onto the ground and pushes off, flipping himself up into midair where he executes a summersalt. He lands on both feet and immediately turns, back into his defensive position he smiles, "Very nice move, Kitty." He waits to see what she does next. She was getting very good at this.
Walter sits, his hotdog finished. He watches the two mutants go at it, hoping to pick up /something/ from the demonstration other than simple awe. He watches the man sumersault, /really/ wishing someone would teach him to do that, he's /certainly/ strong enough...
Alyssa has, at some point, slid down against the log. She's dozing quietly, with her elbow against the log and her head propped up on her fist -- if it weren't for being so quiet, it'd seem like she's just watching the goings on.
Piotr notes Walter's admiration with tight-lipped displeasure, regretting his suggestion that has turned from a demonstration into an event that will doubtless encourage more desire to learn to kick butt. Frowning, he sits forwards, legs bent up in front of him, solid forearms resting just below his knees, watching his young companions more than the combatants.
Mira gives a low whistle of appreciation. It's not quite flying acrobatics and wire-fu, but real martial arts are seldom as showy as the movies. If Piotr was concerned that it would, in fact, encourage exactly the opposite of what he'd hoped... then he would be right.
The compliment is received warmly, with only a hint of a blush on Kitty's part (though, that could be from physical exertion). "Thank you" she says genuinely. It means a lot, coming from someone she respects as much as she does Scott. Her next 'attack' is a strike aimed at his side.
Scott lifts his arm up and takes the hit on the side, however, he slams his arm closed and spun, striking out at the leg she's balanced on, attempting to sweep her off her feet.
Walter continues to watch the fight. He doesn't want to fight, he just wants to be able to do it /well/ if the need arises. His girlfriend was kidnapped. He and /several/ of his friends have been shot at. The girl at his side was mugged. Ability to defend himself and others is rather /high/ on his priority list. Shame Pete can't pick up on his motives.
Alyssa has been accosted by an illusionist and a telepath, nearly electricuted by a friend of her ex-boyfriend, and escaped from one of Magneto's minions with her life but not her voice. She would point out that sometimes the best way to fight is to know when to run away -- except that she's still asleep, comfortable against the log, near the fire. About to blow her cover, though, as she begins to snore softly.
Walter has already mastered the art of running away, in fact, his genetics give him perhaps an unfair advantage. He could likely pick up any of the nearby mutants, with the exception of Pete, and /still/ clock olympic sprinter speeds on the way out of there.
Scott's tactic works, though Kitty manages to keep her head enough not to instinctively sink into the ground. She should be able to regain her balance once he releases his hold. "Man. You're /good/." The tone isn't of surprise, it's not that she didn't /know/ he was. She's just impressed nonetheless.
Scott offers her his hand, to help her up. "Thank you, Kitty. But I think that's enough for the demonstration." He then turns to face the other students. "What you've seen here is Kitty and myself try to not get hurt. That is the purpose of us teaching martial arts at this school." He places his hands behind his back. "In short, we are not trying to hurt each other, but trying to keep from getting injured." He looks back at Kitty, then back to the others. "It's been fun hanging out, but there are things I have to attend to." He waves as he makes his way back to the mansion.
Mira nods all the way through Scott's safety-speech and waves cordially to his retreating back. Then she balls her fists and grins at Kitty when Ol' Slim is out of earshot. "That was awesome!"
Walter chuckles at Mira, poking her, "In one ear and out the other with you, isn't it. You think an audiokinetic would have good hearing..." He laughs, "But yeah, it was kinda cool." He has questions, but those can wait. He looks over at Alyssa, who is... snoring. He smiles, "Hey Alyssa!" he shouts.
"Mira," Piotr's tone is wearied, a disapproving glance delivered to her clenched fists, but with Walter already having delivered the admonission he decides not to repeat it and instead turns to Kitty with a smile. "Well done. I am thinking Professor Summers was a far better opponent for you than I would have been."
Mira gives Walter's shoulder a shove in recompense for a poking. "My ears and eyes ain't broke, Walt, they work together just fine. But c'mon, that was impressive. If I was that good..." she trails off, but not sadly. Perhaps hopefully.
Kitty smiles, dusting herself off as she rejoins the group. "It /was/ fun. It's been a while since I've had a sparring match like that" she says, releasing the ponytail in her hair and shaking out the sand. She gives Piotr a playful poke in the ribs "I might still try to get you to practice with me some time" she tells him.
Walter reaches over, pulling Mira close, in a friendly sorta way, "Just what I was thinking." He smiles. "Afterall, you can't bring Mighty Mouse along on /all/ your trips into the city." He looks to the older mutants, "So, when can /we/ get lessons. Safehouse kids seem to be /magnets/ for trouble, and I'm declaring Mira an honorary!"
Alyssa awakens with a start, having missed -- quite a bit of excitement, really. "Hmm?" she inquires, then blink once she realizes where she's dozed off. "/Gack/. Gah. 'M awake, I swear." She scrubs at her eyes with the back of her hand, and pulls herself up a bit. "What'd I miss?"
Mira shifts her eyes back and forth, unsure of what to do about the sudden and friendly contact, even though it's well-intentioned. But she's still in her bathing suit. And Walter has his arm around her. She fights the immediate impulse to push him over and instead just deadpans, "I can still pop your eardrums if I want, you know."
Piotr twists automatically away from the poke, the muscles in his side tensing slightly to combat the one true weakness of Colossus: the fact that he is rather ticklish. "I will gladly do so," he replies, crisis averted as the finger is withdrawn. He lowers his voice and moves closer to Kitty, speaking so that only she can hear out of discretion more than secrecy. "Professor Summers has said I may rejoin the team."
"Oh! I'm glad" Kitty says at that news, jumping up to embrace her Russian friend in a warm hug. "I know I feel better already knowing I've got you around to watch my back. And vice versa."
Walter notices Mira's odd reaction, then the reasoning. He removes his hand, hold the other up in attempt to defend himself, kind of a 'it wasn't anything like that' gesture. "Awww, but if you made me deaf, I'd be /so/ much harder to tease."
"Yeah," says Mira. "But you'd be way easier to sneak up on. Which balances things out, I think. So maybe I won't hurt you too much just yet." She swats at a bug that's getting a little too friendly with her forearm. "Ugh. I was happy there were cicadas in New York, but mosquitoes I can do without!"
The hug is met with surprise, a gentle smile and a tiny colouration of Piotr's cheeks as he wraps his arms around Kitty, supporting her so she doesn't end up dangling from his neck. Strong arms lower her to the floor as he replies warmly, "I am not unsure what there is that I could be keeping you from that you could not avoid yourself, Katya." His head tips to the side a little as he regards her fondly. "But I am glad that I will be at your side, nonetheless."
Walter chuckles at Mira, "You just gotta remember those candles, bugspray never seems to do the trick." He fakes a little frown, "And why would you wanna hurt me?" Chuckling, he looks to Alyssa, "Kitty beat up Mr. Summers, they had to take him to the medlab," he fibs.
"Apparently I missed sooooomething," Alyssa murmurs quietly, grinning up at Kitty and Piotr. She gathers her towel around herself a bit more, and runs her thumb under the shoulder strap of her bikini top -- then stops and laughs at Walter. "Uh huh. Sure they did."
Amara comes to a stop near the end of the path, quick to take notice that there's a crowd about, not that she minds. She seems dressed appropriately enough, keeping a towel wrapped around her waist. She doesn't say much yet, instead just taking in what's going on with a light smile.
"No, seriously, they did." Mira is a much better liar than Walt. "Kitty busted his nose and he said he was just gonna go walk it off, but he went straight for the house with a big ol' washcloth on his face." She points at the path that leads up to the school, as if this lends some credence to the story.
Kitty rolls her eyes. "Yeah" she says, with -much- sarcasm. "I unleashed a can of whoop-ass on my former teacher." She shakes her head.
Amara blink-blinks... She'd walked by Scott, actually... "Is that what you were doing down here?" She seems a tad puzzled, and as such ends up giving herself away a bit quickly.
Piotr's eyes linger on Kitty for a moment as she turns away, then fall to the floor. "I am thinking I should return inside now," he says quietly to no one in particular. "I will... attempt to see how Scott is doing, yes?" When his eyes raise again, there is a hint of humour in them.
Mira grins at the big Russian man, wrapping her towel (also purple) around her shoulders and giving him a wave. "Good to see you again, Pete. Tell Mr. Summers I think I found one of his teeth!" Then a moment later. "And hang out with us more! You need to play Street Fighter!"
Walter looks over his shoulder, spotting Amara, "Hello, Girl-whose-name-I-do-not-know!" He waves before turning to look at Kitty and Peter, smiling. Apparently him getting a girlfriend was some sort of cosmic cue for Xavier's to go all romantic. He started a trend, yay! Still kinda sucks for Jamie though. "He needs to play Mortal Kombat too!" he tacks onto the end of Mira's statement. "Oh, warn Mr. Summers about the brown stuff, Dr. McCoy seems to like it, but it /stings!/"
Kitty shakes her head. "We just had a friendly sparring match to demonstrate" she says. "If we were actually competing, Scott would have one. He's got more experience, not to mention size on me." She is, after all, a bit on the petite side. "Goodnight Pete" she says when the Russian excuses himself from the group. Lying is /mean/ and /wrong/, kids.
"That, and there -- well, there was a party. It was pretty awesome." Alyssa stands, pushing herself up from the sand. "I think I'm headed in, too --" She catches the slight humor in Poitr's eyes, and can't help but grin. "Y'all are great. /Asses/, but great. I'm goin' inside." She shakes her towel out, and Ariel flaps cheerfully in the breeze -- the red of her hair and green of her tail slightly faded, but still cheerful. "Thanks, Kitty."
Considerably dressed more casually than the last time she entered this building - adorning casual jean shorts and a black shirt with a dragon on it proclaiming 'Trogdor! The Burninator!' - Eileen slips in through the invitingly open door. A full canvas rucksack supporting dozens of bright pins and buttons is slung over her shoulder. Within the Main Entrance, she pauses, dark eyes peering about for signs of life. "Knock, knock!"
In such a well-appointed traditional home as the mansion, one might expect to be greeted at the door by a stuffy English butler who is addressed only by his surname. One probably would not expect a tall, strapping Russian looking like he has just returned from a workout, but this is precisely what Eileen finds, in the form of Piotr. "Can I help you?" he asks, approaching the unfamiliar woman.
Nisa wanders through the mansion, unsure of what to do with herself. She almost passes right by the entrance without a thought of it, but the small gathering of people catches her eye and curiousity. She approaches silently, standing halfway behind Piotr.
Not far distant, padded footsteps move through the hall, passing from the kitchen to the greater hall of the front door. Jareth turns the corner into that greater hall in the midst of a bit of sandwich. As a result, he swallows in haste and strides closer to the door. "Ah. You must be Eileen. Jean passed along the message you'd be joining us." He trades the sandwich between hands and extends the now free hand to her. "I'm Jareth Tarrant. This is Piotr Rasputin."
"Oh! Hello!" The strapping Russian receives a broad and warm smile, welcoming despite being the stranger. "My name is Eileen McEwan," she offers, stepping forward, out of the way of the stack of walking boxes with an extended hand, "and I've just been recently hired to teach here. Ahh, I called Doctor Grey earlier--" The sentence clips off with the approach of a sandwhich-bearing man and the woman completes the handshake. "Pleased to meet you, Piotr. And you, Jareth." Handshakes are exchanged, following through with social savvy politeness. "I apologize if this is short notice..."
Piotr returns both Eileen's smile and her handshake in kind, genial and polite, correcting Jareth's introduction with a hint of amusement, "Please, Peter. It is much easier to say." He also eyes the boxes, considering offering to help their beleagured transporter, but as Jamie seems to be doing well enough on his own he returns his gaze to the new teacher. "Welcome to Xavier's School," he says, accented bass and sweeping hand gesture encompassing both a building and something much deeper.
The walking boxes continue walking closer, the steps faltering for a moment with the voices and Madrox peeking up over them to change his path around, although as he does, he pokes his head a bit to the side to peer around his armload with curiosity. "Oh! A new teacher?" This catches his attention enough to stop before passing her by, grinning widely towards her. "Welcome to Xavier's, Eileen! I'd shake your hand too, but- well, I guess I could, but I don't-...you're familiar with the...uniqueness of the students here, right?"
Nisa sticks her head out from behind Piotr, long blonde braid swinging over her shoulder. the tall girl dwarfed by the much taller man. "Hello," she greets in her Scandinavian accent.
One hand detaches from the shake. The sandwich-clad other waves agreement and remembrance, and Jareth nods. "Peter. Nice to meet you, Eileen." Another wave of hand dispatches her concern. "We live with the unexpected. It's a scheduled event in our day planners." His attention swings around, no logistical analysis forthcoming of this statement, to follow Peter's to Madrox. "You need a hand, Jamie?"
"Peter," Eileen corrects, speaking the name with a visual scan of his face, making proper mental connections for future encounters. And, lo! The boxes can speak! Shortly-shorn auburn hair gets brushed self-consciously at as the woman turns her smile towards the young man. "/Quite/ familiar," she assures conspiratorially before her gaze flickers towards the lean blonde. Eyebrows arch faintly with the need to tilt her chin upwards in order to look the young woman in the eye, though the Scandinavian is granted a now blushing smile and a proper handshake, "Hello! And your name is...?" A gentle laugh towards Jareth. "I just came down quickly to scout out the apartments in Salem Center. The landlady assured me I /had/ to do it /tomorrow/."
A glance over his shoulder elicits a momentary look of bewilderment from Piotr, dampened quickly as he offers a faint smile at Nisa, but allows her to introduce herself. He returns his attention to Eileen with a mild query, "You are not staying at the school?" even as he offers his assistance to Madrox with a simple gesture suggesting that he could bear to carry a box, should help be required.
Madrox snickers quietly and shakes his head. "Thanks Jareth, Peter, but I'm good. -That so, Eileen? Then, great!" With a stomp of his foot, another identical Jamie Madrox - sans boxes - appears just beside him with an equally large grin, leaving the box-laden one to dip his head in a parting nod and continue out of the mansion as the newly appeared Madrox offers a hand and greeting. "There, now I can. Jamie Madrox - s'good t'meet ya, Eileen."
"Nisa," she says, shaking the offered hand. She smiles back at Piotr and giggles as the second Jamie appears, though she offers no demostration of her own powers.
A small flourish of hand extends Jareth's thumbs up to Jamie, allowing him to return his notice to Eileen and sundry. Much the same expression as Piotr falls across his face, settling identical silent question - or not so silent, already voiced - on Eileen. "You're familiar with the arrangements, I presume. All the teachers do have their own individual rooms here at the school."
"Nice to meet you, Nisa." Again, polite, but not stuffy in her greeting. "Ahh, well, is it common for staff to stay? I just have a lot of--" And then there's a second Jamie, which would take anyone unsuspecting off-guard. White rims around nearly-black irises and, for a startled moment, Eileen's smile falters. Then a blush and a quick offer of her hand as if to make up for the reaction. "That's- Wow. Useful," she manages with a bemused chuckle, shaking his hand. "You're like an ooze, Jamie. A pleasure to meet you!" Perhaps a little too chipper, with that one. Then: "Yeah, I'm aware that rooms are available. I have a lot of /stuff/, though. And people who may want to visit me sometime." Though her eyes flicker questioning between Jareth and Peter with the last statement, making it appear to be a question.
Piotr's gaze passes over Madrox for a moment, not at the appearance of the dupe, but to attempt to discern any sign of oozing. Slight confusion accompanies his inability to find any evidence of this occurring, but is gone by the time he notices and answers Eileen's implicit question, albeit missing the point a little. "Visitors are normally being fine, but we should clear them with Doc- ah, Jean first," he says, hesitating over how to refer to his former teacher. "It is... important in a school like this, yes?"
Laughter bubbles out of Madrox in perhaps too much enjoyment from that response by Eileen, "Ooze! That's /great/, I've totally thought about the similarit-oh wait, you...you /did/ mean that in a D&D manner of speaking, yeah?" His bright grin falters for a moment into a hopeful smirk, shaking her hand and nodding as he adds, "Useful in so many ways. One man moving crew these past couple o'days."
"Ooze?" Nisa questions, herself as well confused as she looks from Eileen to Jamie. Strange Americans.
Far be it from Jareth to pass up suitable opportunity for commentary. "Jamie is quite possibly the unholy merging of a human being and kudzu." Closing argument made in the form a dry smirk, he favors Eileen with a mild hoist of shoulders. "The rooms are fairly large. Closet, main room space, individual bathrooms. You shouldn't have much of an issue unless you're carrying an interdimensional pocket and some portion of the Louvre in that backpack, in which case, teach me that trick, O wise master."
"Is there any other manner of speaking?" Eileen counters Jamie before assess Nisa a little sheepishly with her query. "Don't mind me," she murmurs, excusing herself from attempting to explain. Jamie receives a thoughtful, if not plotting glance with his claim, though the new professor does not try to recruit. The bag shifts upon her shoulders - buttons with snarky statements and preferred bands clicking together. "Friends and siblings are allowed to visit?" she clarifies to Peter before Jareth receives a broad grin. "Just a bag. Unfortunately. Though this is hardly everything." Though the grin falters with a glance towards Jamie. The woman shifts, asking carefully: "How many of you are there?"
Utter bafflement settles on the Russian's features at the word kudzu, eyebrows peaked towards the centre, lips pulled tight in a slightly strained way. The confusion fades as Jareth continues speaking and the conversation takes a turn into realms that - bizarrely - do not make Piotr question his knowledge of English: interdimensional pockets? A regular occurance around here. Perhaps not regular enough, suggests a momentary solemnity which turns to a smile as he nods in reply to Eileen's question. "As long as they are being cleared, yes."
"Jareth!" Madrox exclaims with a bright grin at Eileen's initial response, "I believe we are adding another geek to the ranks. Man, it's too bad I'm done here and going to Emerson next semester, you sound like a really fun person. I should be around still, here and there, though." His eyes flicker between the others as they speak, momentary confusion resurfacing and uttering with curiosity, "Kudzu?" Attention then slides back to Eileen with her question, chuckling for a moment as his eyes drift upwards in thought. "Um. Right now? Three."
"HOw many can you make at once?" Nisa asks Jamie, her attention moving from the confusing ooze to him. She never did find out prevsiously.
A skeptical sort of regard is all that Jareth can think to pass between the others. "No one remembers kudzu?" The regard swings from one to the next a moment longer, and Jareth's shoulders faintly droop as a fractional sigh escapes. Only a beat elapses before he straightens again, one hand flapping in Eileen's direction. "You're teaching... biology, wasn't it? Back me up here. Creeping plant, grows damn near anywhere, appears and spreads faster than zits the night before prom?"
Eileen's hand surreptitiously covers a button with an emoticon which reads 'Kiss me, I'm a Geek' and eyes Madrox with mock hurt. "That's a rather presumptuous thing to say," she murmurs, though amusement dances unmistakable within her eyes and about her lips. "Kudzu," she begins, her voice claiming a knowledgeable tone, perhaps a premonition to the fall season and start of classes, "is a deciduous vine which multiplies at an alarming rate, especially since it can kill trees and claim entire areas - even having been known to grow over houses and cars. Impossible to kill." Her eyes flicker back towards Jareth with a grin. "Sounds like a horrible B-movie, doesn't it?"
Piotr listens to the impromptu biology lesson with the gentle attention of one who is always willing to learn. The comment at the end draws a ponderous blink as he wonders if this new teacher understands exactly what teaching at a school full of mutants entails, but since the remark was not aimed at him he remains comfortably silent.
"I- uh-" Madrox seems at a loss for a moment to Eileen's mock hurt, holding up his hands before chuckling and scratching the back of his head. "Well, judging by the D&D comment which /nobody/ here has gotten whenever I've mentioned it-...Sorry," His grin does remain on his lips though, gentlemanly nature nudging forward in response to the new face. "I actually don't know, Nisa, I've never...been /unable/ to make more, at least, and I made a small room-full of me once." Attention flickers quickly back to Jareth with the description from both of them, casting a playful mock glare towards him but unable to completely wipe the ghost traces of a smirk from the corners of his lips.
Thumbs settle over the side of Jareth's pockets, there content to wait for the duration of Eileen's exposition. If it happens that he takes an ephemeral glimpse of the button, no indication is obvious. He meets her smile with a mirrored answer. "So have you had dinner? We can find some food and help you take your stuff upstairs." He tips a finger in indication to the curve of hall concealing the kitchen, then pauses to blink and abruptly draw his brows downward. "Wait. Are we talking about kudzu or the press covering Brad and Angelina?"
Eileen does not know what teaching at mutant-high means just yet, but boy is she about to find out! The stoic Russian is given an including smile, as is Nisa, though Jamie simply gets a few chuckles. "No, don't apologize," she murmurs towards the young man. "Dinner? A bite to eat would be wonderful. I only have one other box out in the car. I was going to hire movers but, now..." A considering pause is taken, along with a glance up the stairs to the halls beyond. "Does any of the staff live off-campus?"
Unable to offer any enlightenment on the abodes of the staff, Piotr gives an apologetic shrug. "I think I should be taking my leave," he says quietly, indicating with one hand his intended direction, towards the faculty wing. "If you are needing any assistance in moving," he adds to Eileen with a smile, "it would be my pleasure to help." A little nod is offered to all those present by way of a farewell before he turns to go.
Madrox shrugs and gives Eileen a renewed grin as he offers, "I could help with all your things, if...people wouldn't get too suspicious or disgruntled over the whole moving crew looking identical to each other, in your neighborhood. Where are you moving from?" He offers Peter a wave and a grin, "I'll catch you later sometime, Peter. I've still got a few things to wrap up around here this weekend."
"Bye Piotr," Nisa says, also waving to the retreating man. "Can help too," she offers with a friendlys mile to the new teacher.
Jareth twirls a hand and gestures down the hall again. "To the food repository!" He beckons the others along, waiting as necessary to allow for anything set down. Another waggle of hand supplies a wave to Piotr while he shakes his head and begins to walk. "All the staff are residents. It's easier to go to and from classes, and makes it far easier to have interaction with the students. Since everyone shares a building, we fill a role of guardian for them, among other things."
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Peter. Thank you!" Eileen is quick to say as the man departs, offering a grin and a light wave to boot. "I'm coming down from south-east New Hampshire, from UNH, so it's a bit of a drive for helping," she explains to both Jamie and Nisa. "Thank you for offering, though." Red-tressed woman follows obligingly after Jareth, making thoughtfully-agreeing noises as she goes. "I know. I was considering that too," she murmurs before presenting another smile. "Perhaps it would be best for me to see the staff designated rooms before coming to a decision. It's a good thing I came down anyway. I've been excited."
Madrox follows along as well, glancing back out the door as the other Madrox returns inside and offers a wave and grin to everyone on his way back upstairs again. "New Hampshire, huh? OH! Hey!" Madrox suddenly seems quite enthusiastic again, "You're right near the ocean there! Oh wow, that's another thing that I definitely need to see sometime. I still can't /believe/ I haven't been able to go to the /real/ beach, but...quite the drive." He smirks as he glances between Jareth and Eileen, nodding quickly in agreement with Jareth's words. "Yeah, but, rather than 'uncle Jareth', some of the staff feel a lot more like good friends than anything else. For me, at least, like him and Sean."
Nisa follows along next to Madrox into the kitchen. "Is nice to have everyone togeher," she agrees with a smile. "What? Never been to beach?" she asks, head turning to Jamie, eyes growing larger. "Even I been to beach. You must go, is much fun."
Eileen arrives and is given a very warm welcome. Piotr is confused by geek references.